Gender differences in headteacher leadership and management styles : a study of a number of headteachers in Maltese secondary schools

Abstract

The gender issue figures prominently in leadership and management studies. The question is whether there actually is gender stereotyping in leadership and management styles, or whether there is cross-gender homogeneity, or even evidence of adrogyny. The aim of this research was to investigate this question within a number of local educational setting. The research consisted of structured interviews with eight headteachers, four female and four male, in state, church and independent secondary schools in Malta. A self-report questionnaire was also administered to the eight headteachers on the subject of leadership and magement styles. The results show up the myth of gender differences in educational leadership and management. Apart from a few exceptions, there was broad cross-gender homogeneity between the headteachers. There also emerged an ideal ‘headteacher leadership style’ with equal numbers of female and male characteristics. The findings have importnant implications both for the practice of educational leadership and management in contemporary schools and for future research on this subject.